for spending a perfectly reasonable amount of time on the couch with tacos from grubhub? rewarded! get a free delivery perk when you order. - [group] grubhub. tonight, president trump's former chief adviser indicted on federal fraud charges, steve bannon accused of an alleged scheme to rip off donations to build a border wall the 150 foot yacht where he was arrested, his plea in court late today and our correspondent inside the oval office getting reaction from president trump. also joe biden, the biggest moment of his nearly 50 year career, ready to accept his nomination on this final night of the dnc. and my one on one with jill biden, the first look at her husband's message. the wildfires turning deadly in california, new evacuations, tens of thousands have now fled their homes. over 100 buildings

destroyed. two tropical systems on a potential course with the u.s., al roker will be along with the track. the battle over schools. teachers in major cities threatening to strike, what they're demanding. was a prominent rival of vladimir putin punished chilling video from inside a plane the man heard screaming in pain before the flight and an image of him drinking tea at the airport, what the kremlin is saying. the mlb announcing caught on a hot mic using a homophobic slur, will he keep his job? the teen accepted to not one but 65 colleges >> announcer: this is nbc nightly news, with lester holt. good evening, everyone, add another big name to the string of former trump insiders who have run afoul of the law federal agents tracking down and arresting steve bannon aboard a yacht along the connecticut coast. the president's former chief strategist accused of fraud related to his role in a campaign to help finance the president's

controversial border wall bannon appearing in court late today, our geoff bennett has late the defending details. super bowl champs are making a sweeping >> reporr: campaign change, the kansas city chiefs boss tonight facing prohibiting fans from wearing head dresses federal charges, steve or american indian bannon, once a top style face paint in aide to president the stadium. it comes as trump, his first chief washington's nfl team strategist in the dropped its name, long white house. considered a slur to arrested off the coast indigenous people. of connecticut this morning aboard a 150 foot yacht he does not own. in cincinnati calls for a longtime major league prosecutors say the broadcaster to be 66-year-old, along fired after he made a with three others, homophobic slur during raised more than $25 a game on live tv. nbc's gabe gutierrez million, in a campaign has more. they said would go >> reporter: it was a entirely to build sections of the southern border wall. hot mic, coming back >> everything that from a commercial this company is doing, break. >> the [ bleep ] capitals of the world. build the wall, it's all to support >> reporter: an president trump and what president trump's trying to do to get a anti-gay slur went physical barrier on the southern border. over the air by cincinnati reds if you join it and we play-by-play announcer get it out to your friends it will be a multiplier and we'll actually not just get tom brennaman. a wall built, we'll save this country. he didn't realize he was on the air seconds later moved oniv >> reporter: but the government says they comment soon went viral. actually took hundreds of thousands of dollars for themselves >> i made a comment bannon's virtual arraignment today captured in this court sketch earlier tonight that i steve bannon was one guess went out over

of the architects of the air that i am deeply ashamed of. president trump's 2016 presidential campaign, mr. trump distancing if i have hurt anyone himself from bannon out there, i can't today when pressed by tell you how much i nbc news. >> mr. president, say from the bottom of my heart i'm so very, what's your reaction very sorry. to the indictment of your former campaign >> reporter: that apology awkwardly aide steve bannon? interrupted. >> well, i feel very badly. i haven't been dealing with him for a long >> i pride myself and period of time as most think of myself as of the people in this a -- a man of faith, room know. as there's a drive into deep left field he was involved in our campaign he worked for goldman it will be a home run. sachs. he worked for a lot ofand for t and so that will make it a 4-0 ball game i don't know if i'm of the administration, going to be putting on very early on. this headset again. i haven't been dealing >> reporter: the team with him at all. says it's devastated by the homophobic remark i know nothing about we share our sincerest the project, other than i didn't like, when i read about it i didn't like it i said this is for government, this isn't for private people and it sounded to me like show boating and i think i let my apologies to the opinion be very strongly stated at the lgbtq plus community he was suspended from time i didn't like it calling ba it was show boating dropped from its and may be looking for funds but you'll to football schedule too. next, he got into see what happens 65 colleges, his inspiring message for all freshmen this year i think it's a very sad thing for mr. bannon. >> respectfully, sir,

it's not just steve bannon, roger stone, michael flynn, rick gates, paul manafort michael cohen, what does it say about your judgment that these are the kind of people to have - >> i have no idea. >> reporter: president trump said he knew nothing about the fund raising effort longtime ally kris kobach said the "new york times" in an interview last year the president said m project has my blessing. you can tell the media that >> kris kobach said you endorsed the wall. >> i didn't know that. i didn't know about bannon's involvement it was something i felt was inappropriate to be doing. >> reporter: steve bannon's court hearing ended today with his attorney entering a plea of not guilty on his behalf he was released on a $5 million bond with restrictions against private jet or yacht travel. >> geoff bennett at the white house, thank you. to joe biden's big night in the middle of his third run for the white house he is now just hours away from accepting his party's nomination for president. it comes after former president obama's denunciation of president trump last night at the democratic national convention here's peter alexander.

>> reporter: after nearly 50 years in political office tonight joe biden captures the prize that's eluded him twice before, formerly accepting his party's nomination for president. his campaign releasing this video that will play tonight >> a passionate argument, sympathetic listening, willingness to make adjustments and accommodations to bring people on board. >> reporter: biden, his aides tell us, will frame the election as a battle for the soul of the nation biden's sister tells nbc news the 77-year-old would not have run again if not for president trump who today campaigned near his rival's hometown of scranton, pennsylvania warning of a dangerous country if biden wins. >> think of the smoldering ruins in minneapolis, the violent anarchy of portland, the bloodstained sidewalks of chicago, and imagine the mayhem coming to your town and every single town -- >> reporter: one of those introducing biden tonight his son hunter whose controversial business dealings overseas have made him one of

president trump's favorite targets other speakers tonight atlanta mayor keisha lance bottoms and pete buttigieg. it follows a scathing and at times emotional speech from former president obama in terms rarely used by one president about another calling out his successor by name as a threat to our democracy. >> donald trump hasne conseque that failure are severe. >> reporter: obama embracing biden as a brother while arguing the president and his allies are trying to make voting as touch as possible. >> that's how a democracy withers. until it's no democracy at all and we cannot let that happen do not let them take away your power. >> reporter: the night also featuring a lineup of accomplished women, all of it punctuated by biden's historic vp choice, kamala harris, her personal story,

the daughter of jamaican and indian immigrants, remembering her late mother. >> she probably could have never imagined that i would be standing before you now and speaking these words, i accept your nomination for vice president. >> reporter: a moment that inspired voter blare armstrong in georgia speaking with nbc's blayne alexander. >> it's exciting that somebody that looks like me might be in one of the hig positions in the land. >> reporter: harris also argued president trump's leadership has finally, a young man worked so hard he cost lives and livelihoods. got into 65 colleges while he can't go to campus he has still found a valuable >> the constant chaos, leaves us adrift lesson, catie beck has the incompetence makes us feel afraid tonight's inspiring america. the callousness makes us feel alone. >> reporter: opening a college acceptance it's a lot >> it was a very good feel good moment and >> peter joins me now. peter, you're getting new information about still is, and i'm just blessed and thankful. >> reporter: for teron >> reporter: yeah, richardson it was a lester, biden was hereth moment repeated 65 afternoon after three times. presidential campaigns he's been imagining how does your mom feel this speech for years about all this

but tonight it will be >> she was more than a very different proud, and very setting, just him, a tv camera, very few excited for me. people in the room and >> reporter: the indianapolis student no live audience for with a hashtag no him to feed off of. sleep in my schedule, >> peter, thanks a four sport athlete, an eagle scout, class and for more on joe biden's speech we're joined by his salutatorian and an advocate against gun violence who worked a wife dr. jill biden. dr. biden, thank you job too, richardson's for being with us today. top choice howard >> you're welcome, thanks for having me on. university where he >> i don't know if a plans to study vice president lets you peek over his shoulder, if you're astrophysics, a part of the writing decisive win followed process, but to the by a loss, no extent you can, can on-campus life thanks to covid-19. you give us a preview of what his message >> you've got to keep and themes will be tonight? looking towards what >> sure, i mean, what you're going to feel tonight is you're the better is, things will get better, you have to hold out hope. >> reporter: a lesson going to feel joe's for life, even before optimism, his energy, the first day of class. catie beck, nbc news. his empathy, you know, all of those things. >> what a terrific story, he's going to do great things. but i'm not -- lester, you're going to have that's nightly news, to watch. >> okay, understand. join us for our special coverage of now, he has been the dnc beginning at known, as you know, sometimes to talk 10:00 eastern right himself into corners, here on nbc. going off script and thank you for watching, everyone, saying things that may i'm lester holt, divert from the please continue to message he wants to deliver. take care of yourself and each other is that something the two of you talk about, something you have anxiety about?

>> oh, gosh, no. you know, he knows exactly what he wants to say he knows exactly where he wants to take this country. and that's what you're going to hear tonight. >> i think most people get the idea of having a virtual convention, owing, of course, to the virus, but campaigns are sometimes won or lost on that ability to get out there to the battleground states to meet people, to press the flesh. have the two of you discussed your tolerance, your risk tolerance this campaign season for getting outside delaware, getting out to some of the battleground states? >> well, you know, lester, we are getting to thousands and thousands of people every single day, we're virtually going into three, four, five states a day but, you know, there -- we want nothing more than to be able to get out there and talk to the people ♪ so once the experts say it's safe, we're going to be out on the trail. >> all right, well dr. jill biden, always >> kelly: welcome, everybody. good to talk to you. it's another great day to enjoy thank you for taking the time for us today. the summer staycation >> thanks, always love talking to you, along with. lester, thank you.

be sure to join us for our special convention coverage on this final night at one of my favorite artists in 10:00 eastern here on nbc. the world brandi carlile we need to turn performing "poison and wine." now to those deadly western wildfires in california where tens of thousands have been evacuated, and hundreds of structures ♪ have been destroyed. ♪ you only know what i want you miguel almaguer is on the front lines. to ♪ >> reporter: as wildfires tear through homes today crews are facing a hundred ♪ i know everything you don't active fires across california, more than want me to ♪ 20 of them monstrous infernos near napa valley teams are losing ground. >> with all the fires burning throughout the state, limited ♪ oh your mouth is poison, your resources, it's making mouth is wine ♪ again overnight, more harrowing evacuations in a hellscape, tens of thousands fleeing flames, some still unaccounted for. >> i have two ♪ you think your dreams are the confirmed burn patients, we're still searching th same as mine ♪ area for an additional potential five. >> reporter: moving at ferocious speeds in northern california, flames jumped an eight lane interstate.

>> the fire was loud it whistles. you could hear trees falling. it was the scariest thing. >> reporter: devouring the mountains above santa cruz, the fire ignited communities outside san francisco. for the last several hours it's been a cat and mouse game with firefighters trying to catch up with hot embers that are traveling through the air for miles. they're losing home after home in the smoke-filled skies near fresno, the fire fight turning deadly when a water dropping helicopter went down. veteran pilot and family man mike fournier gave his life protecting others. >> it's not going to be same without him. he changed so many people's lives people are going to miss him so much. >> reporter: with some of the worst air quality on the planet chokin large swaths of the state tonight communities must wait and watch, the sun setting on another

destructive day. for now there remains no official number on the true scope of the damage only estimates and while there's no question home after home was lost, entire communities were also wiped off the map. lester >> hats off to firefighters there, miguel, thank you very much. two potentially dangerous weather systems are brewing in the tropics and they're expected to gain steam as they move toward the u.s. al roker with following it all for us al, what's the latest? >> lester, within the next 24 hours we may have two named systems making their way to the gulf, 13 and 14, 615 miles east of the leeward islands and 155 miles east of nicaragua, one system may become laura, the other marco. one system, though, becomes a category 1 storm, threatening florida. the other, the gulf coast of texas either way, we're going to have to watch it all weekend long. last time we had a situation like this, lester, was 1959 the weekend will tell the big story. >> all right, i know

you're keeping your eye on it, al, thanks very much. word tonight the trump administration has formally declared teachers essential workers. as the president continues his push to reopen in-person schools teachers in several cities are threatening to strike. anne thompson explains. >> reporter: ask on their summer vacation and many will say worry. >> i understand parents need care, but turning my school into a covid laboratory is not the answer. >> you could be the person that brings it home to your family and affects your whole family. >> it's just not -- it's not safe. >> reporter: that fear driving detroit teachers to overwhelmingly approve a potential safety strike in new york city where public schools are set to open their doors in three weeks teachers are threatening to strike as well. >> we have promised the teachers and the parents of new york city that we would stand and fight if we felt a school was

unsafe and that is a promise we are going to keep. >> reporter: the union representing about 120,000 school employees issuing a three-page checklist, including no-contact thermometers, sanitizing sprayers, exit and entry protocols for students and staff and upgraded ventilation systems. that's what's key for elementary teacher christine joseph. >> most of the windows do not open for more than a few inches. >> most of your windows do not open more than a few inches. >> if they open at all. some do not open at all. that's a very big concern for the teachers. >> reporter: today mayor bill de blasio promised to open windows as part of his safety pledge, including better ventilation, free covid testing for students and staff at city-run sites plus a 30-day supply of ppe at all schools. >> we are going toready. >> reporter: of the nation's nine largest districts only the biggest, new york city, is starting with an in-person option as teachers insist safety

is nonnegotiable anne thompson, nbc news, new york. in 60 seconds, the deepenin mystery as a long-time critic of vladimir putin fights for his life, was he poisoned? a huge settlement of the tainted water crisis in flint, michigan, who's getting the money.

back now with a mystery unfolding in russia, was a prominent critic of vladimir putin poisoned before he boarded a flight richard engel with the latest on his condition and the disturbing video from inside that airplane. >> reporter: alexei navalny, the president's most outspoken critic, and anti-corruption name and shame drank tea before boarding a flight from siberia to moscow. in mid-air he was suddenly very ill, moaning in agony the plane made an emergency landing, navalny wheeled to an ambulance and taken to a hospital, his spokeswoman said she suspected the tea was poisoned by an unknown toxin. it's unclear if this

image shows the poisoning. a doctor confirmed he was stable in a coma on a ventilator. navalny according to his lawyer was already poisoned in police custody last year. another time he had a green dye thrown in his face he said it's nearly blinded him. navalny has been arrested time and time again and many of putin's critics have mysteriously become ill or died. politician boris nemtsov was shot and killed near the kremlin, another activist was poisoned twice and survived investigative journalist anna politkovskaya was shot alexander litvinenko had a radioactive poison slipped in his tea in london. he died. russia denied the poisoning, wished him well, and promised an investigation if it was poisoning. navalny expressed support for these protesters in

neighboring belarus saying their russian-backed president stole the recent election. these demonstrators plan to hold a mass gathering this weekend that could draw 100,000 or more. lester >> richard engel tonight, thank you. back home, a major ne development in the flint water crisis, the state of michigan and other defendants agreeing to pay $600 million in a settlement with residents whose health was harmed by lead tainted drinking water. under the deal 80% of the money will go to victims younger than 18 during the crisis and up next, why a veteran major league announcer has been suspended.